Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9347, 16 January 1909, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1909. EDITORIAL NOTES.

WE referred recently to the manner in which principles affirmed by legislation are applied to matters for which they were not intended, adducing among other things the extension of the principle of the Advances to Settlers Act to those who are noc settlers, but owners of city properties. We now observe that the principle of this Act is being still further extended, and that this|last extension is very likely to involve the taxpayers in serious loss. A Gazette notice published last Thurs-

day notifies that Grown lands held on lease under section 45, part 8 of the Mining Acts, 1898 and 1908, shall be sufficient security for a loan under the advances to Settlers Act. It is very questionable whether any private money-lender would be willing to advance on such “security,” but, of course, the money-lender would not be seeking to secure the political support of a section of the community or please a labour organisation. These mining leases are at very low rentals, and the tenure is obviously one of the most uncertain, and in the event of the mines being worked out the security would absolutely valueless. If the Department extends its business in this direction it is certain that a-time will come when the taxpayers will be called upon to pay for a shortage. The position shows the grave danger of enabling political or party considerations to influence the dealing with money for the repayment of which all the taxpayers are responsible.

THE hostility of the Ministers towards employers of labour is made more evident every day. Instead of encouraging men to use their capital in industrial or commercial enterprise everything that can discourage is tried, and it is a wonder that employers do not break out into open revolt. The latest instance of the desire to please the employees is afforded by the appointment of Messrs P. Hally and Mr T. H. Giles as Coaciliatioxi Commissioners. The former was for some time President of the New Zealand Federated Tailoresses Union, and the latter has been identified with the Liberal and Labour Federation in Auckland. The public may be left to judge whether an employer is likely to be favoured in any dispute. These “conciliators” are appointed under the new Act which was supposed to be framed to ensure impartiality. Unfortunately, too, unlike the Conciliation Boards which now disappear, the Commissioners cannot be Ignored by parties who wish to take advantage of the Act, so that the employers are tied up more securely than they were before, and may be made still more*helpless victims. Fortunately the [Arnitration Court remains as a last resort, but the employers may be considerably prejudiced before they arrive at that place of difficulty and danger.

WE doubt whether the.public, and particularly those who have fixed stakes in the country, are giving sufficient attention to the movement which is going on in the direction of federating all labour unions they appreciated its importance as affecting their own interests they also would be actively organising 'to deal with a common enemy when the occasion requires defensive action. We observe that among the incidents in this connection is the visit of Mr D. McLaren, M.P., to Australia to form an alliance between the waterside workers in the Commonwealth and those in the Dominion. As these again federate with the other unions it will be possible to suddenly paralyse all trade and commerce whenever any union is dissatisfied with an award or seeks to succeed in some more aggressive action against employers. The position is becoming serious, and Parliament should te called upon to pass laws to prevent conspiracy on a gigantic scale and of a nature which may inflict grave injury on the whole community. Failing the passage of such laws these may be something to be said in favour of encouraging rifleshooting, and possessing good rifles.

New Zealand Employers’ Federation intend entering a strong protest against the appointment of Mr Giles as Conciliation Commissioner. The Town Clerk of *Marton notifies all persons indebted to the Council that the first batch of summonses will be issued shortly unless accounts are paid promptly. Mr Geo. E. Owen, M.R.O. V.S., formerly- of Marton, has been appointed by Government a member of the veterinary staff at Ashburton. Mr Owen leaves Palmerston for Ashburton next week.

Mr W. Watson, Apiti, who has 900 acres of some of the best dairy land in the locality, has decided to subdivide it into small dairy farms and sell on easy terms. He will give a suitable site for a creamery on. the land. We understand that steps will be taken at once to put the land on the market. Further particulars will be advertised shortly. A statement having appeared in the Post that the proposed Dairy School at Palmerston would not be proceeded with, the Standard wired to the Premier asking for a statement on the subject. The Premier replied “Your telegram of yesterday's date. Suggest you ask Evening Post to state upon what authority it makes statement referred to. I have heard nothing of 'it.—J. G. Ward.”

Messrs Signal Bros, have a new advertisement in to-day’s issue. The firm have added considerably to their plant during the past year and their stables are now fully equipped. A motor-car is now for hire in connection with the business, and is in charge of Mr W. H. Signal, who has proved himself a thoroughly reliable driver.

The banking returns for December quarter show that the total average liabilities amount to £22,103,898, as compared with £24,550,112 for the corresponding quarter of 1907, and the assets aggregate £28,977,861, as against £28,148,700. They indicate also that the banks have given accommodation to the full extent of their power. The most striking feature of the return is that Government deposits are less by £1,058,742 than in December quarter of 1907, indicating that the Ministry have not been able to finance from outside, and leaving the Banks with a million less for the accommodation of clients.

This morning a hailstorm was experienced in this district. Mr Buiok’s election expenses for Palmerston seat have been returned at £l4B 9s Id—£99 12s 6d for first ballot and £48,16s 7d for second ballot.

Mr A. G. Simms, Government Pomologist, visited Marton yesterday to inspect the fruit shops, marts, etc. Mr Simms informed us that the stocks and premises were in excellent condition.

The N.Z. Farmers’ Dairy Union paid out £7104 12s 9d for butter-fat for four weeks in December. They paid Is per lb for butter-fat for cheese and per lb for butter. The highest’ individual cheque was £IBO, taken by an Otaki supplier. The general meeting of Marton Athletic Olub will take place on Monday evening, instead of Wednesday, as previously fixed. This alteration has been made on account of Miss Florence Baines’ performance at Marton on Wednesday evening. The business for this meeting is to consider the sports programme drawn up by a sub-committee. Mr A. G. Simms, Government Pomologist, informed one of our representatives yesterday that orchards in Rangitikei district are improving. Commercial growers are. giving the best attention to: the cultivation"' of fruit. Unless some improvement in some of the small orchards is shown the authorities intend to take action.

The Pioneer states that ids Highness the Nizam ofj Haidarabad had a narrow escape from a collision with a oar belonging to a Haidarabad notable which overtook and passed at full speed within about two inches of the Nizam’s car. His Highness is stated to have inflicted a fine of Rs. 1000 (£66), and to have ordered the confiscation of all the motor cars belonging to the offender.

Reefton district has been visited by a storm unequalled for years. Two days’ steady rain culminated in two hours downpour. The creeks, which had risen and already greatly swollen, became roaring torrents, sweeping down trees and bridges and washing away everything movable. The damage done is calculated to be enormous.

Speaking at Home on the subject of religions education in schools Bishop Neligan said: “My experience in the ‘Britain of, the Pacific’ makes me view with horror the possibility of secular State'sohopls in England. Very many teachers in the State schools of New Zealand long to be allowed to teach religion; the greater number of Nonconformists in that country, as well as of Anglicans, are gravely apprehensive of the results of secular State schools. ’ ’

An inquiry was opened by Mr Fraser, coroner, at Himatangi, on Thursday, into the origin of a fire that destroyed a house occupied by A. W. Jones on December 21st. Evidence was given by Henry Hartley and William Meads as to being called out by an alarm of fire and seeing the .house in flames. There was no one about the place, Jones having gone away in the morning. Robert Spencer also gave evidence as to the insurance and an adjournment was made till Monday morning, when Jones himself will be in attendance. Lieut-General Sir H. L. SmithDorrien issued k proclamation at Aldershot recently in which he said: —The General Officer Oommanding-in-Ohief, considering that the time hasjarrived when non-commissioned officers and men can be trusted to behave themselves in the town without the presence of pickets, has decided to order the discontinuance of the present system of patrolling the.,streets. In making this experiment, which will free a very large number of men daily from an irksome duty, and is therefore entirely in the interests of the men themselves, he hopes that his confidence will *not be misplaced, and that nothing will occur to oblige him to revert to .the present state of things. ”

At the entertainment tendered to Mr Field, M.P., on Wednesday night at Levin, a prominent sawmiller, Mr P. Bartholomew, said the importation of Oregon pine had staggered the sawmilling industry. One shipment to Wellington of 3,600,000 feet, would account for the slackness in bnsiness throughout the Dominion (recently. A few timber merchants benefited at the expense of the whole of the millers and their employees. Mr J. B. Stansell, flaxmiller and sawmiller, said royalties had killed the flaxmillers. One firm paid £6OOO :in wages and £3OOO in royalties during the same period, and a miller had committed suicide owing to the amount of royalty he was compelled to pay. One flaxmiller, formerly a poor man, had made £33,000 out of royalties. While this robbery went on there was no hope for the industry.

The Premier has received the following cable message from the Hon. W. P. Beeves, dated London, 13th inst. :—“On quitting the post which I have had the pleasure to hold for the last 13 years, I desire to express my thanks to you for the uniform special courtesy shown to mo by you as Minister and Premier, and also to say how much the confidence you have been good enough to place in my zeal and humble judgment has aided my doing the work here with success. Very good wishes.’’ The Premier replied as follows: —“I much appreciate your kind farewell message. During yonr long tenure of office you discharged the important aud difficult duties attaching to the position with complete satisfaction to the Government. I desire to place on record the valuable assistance you have at all times rendered me. You have my sincerest good wishes ‘for your future welfare in your new sphere.’’ It has been decided to open the hearing of Mr A. R. Barclay’s petition in regard to Dunedin North election on January 28th at Dunedin before Mr Justice Williams and Mr Justice Deunistun. The petitioner was defeated by a very narrow majority, the successful candidate by a few votes being Mr G. A. Thomson, an Oppositionist. A package of ballot papers disappeared mysteriously after the recount, and nothing has since been heard of the matter. However, this has not been included among the grounds of the petition, Mr Barclay relying mainly upon the reutrniug officer’s action in regard to alleged double voting, as a reason for upsetting the election, A number of votes were disallowed bv the returning officer on the ground that they were duplicates, while Mr Barclay contends that they are not, aud that sufficient votes were thus disallowed to turn the election in his opponent’ favour.

The death is reported at Karori of Mr J. O. Gavin, formerly -Assistant* Controller and 1 Auditor-General.

The election expenses of Mr D, H. Gnthrie have been returned at £194 18s 7d, and those of Mr O. O. Pleasants at £197 3s 3d.

Mr John Graham, solicitor, Feilding, has a splendid dairy farm for sale situated at Bnnnythorpe, close to dairy and dried milk factories. Easy terras can be arranged. A boarding house at Christchurch, situated in Cashel Street East, was broken into late on Thursday night and abont £3O taken from the pockets of the boarders’ clothes.

Thames report that the auxiliary scow Zingara, loaded with 170 logs struck the rocks at Paku, inside Tairna bar, while attempting to get ont at noon yesterday. As the tide fell she slipped off the rocks and sank in mid-channel. The crew reported all safe. Harvest operations in Canterbury are- being much hampered by the broken weather of the past two weeks. It is reported that in North Canterbury heavy rain fell on Wednesday night, and the weight of the same was forcing down the standing grain crops again. Thursday was a perfect harvest day, but on Friday the conidtions were qnite reversed. Farmers are generally becoming very gloomy over the harvest prospects in consequence of the catchy weather and the nndne prevalence of storms this season. The ripening of the wheat is of course being delayed. Several naragraphs in different papers, suggesting that retrenching is going on in the railway service, were brought under the notice of the Hon. Mr Millar, who said that there was no need to keep on men who were taken on specially in r connection with extra work for getting the Main Trunk Line and rolling stock ready. Tne ordinary staff was not being reduced, only extra hands and to make it as easy as possible the Department spread the reductions over a period of two months— Januaryjand February. At the quarterly meeting of Kim-bolton-Apiti Methodist Circuit last Wednesday it was reported that the ordinary income had again exceeded the expenditure, and that there had been an increase of two in the membership. There was £BO to the credit of the special fnnd for extinction of church debt in the circuit, and £74 had been promised. It was anticipated that by the end of March the object in the formation ’of the fund would be achieved. Spiritual progress was also being made from the work done in the schools and, churches. Mr F, S. Guy and Mr W. Martin were re-elected circuit stewards, and thanked ’for their services in the past year.